Julia Wello was the eldest of eight children. Her Congolese family struggled to survive financially, forcing Julia to quit school before she could even read. Reaching her teens, she felt so desperate to make a future for herself that she considered taking to the streets and earning money through prostitution. To compound her challenges, she became pregnant by a soldier who lived at the nearby Kinshasa military base.
As soon as he was born, Julia loved her baby–a little boy with jet black hair and sweet brown eyes. But one day, when he was two years old, he was kidnapped away from her. Amidst her grief and anger, she strongly suspected the boy’s soldier father behind all of this–but could not prove the fact. And of course, the soldier denied this accusation.
“We want to organize a funeral,” her family suggested. It’s time to grieve the loss of this precious boy who was likely lost forever. But Julia refused. “I believe that my son is still alive,” she asserted. “I will find him.”
Julia drowned out her sorrows with alcohol. One afternoon, she was drinking with her friends near her home when a young man approached. He politely interrupted the women’s conversation. “I have great news for you all,” he said.
Julia was quick to respond. “You do? Let’s make a deal. Before you tell us your great news, buy us two beers. Then we’ll listen to what you have to say.”
“I have something better than beer.” While diplomatic, the Bible worker didn’t waste his words. He presented a set of Bible study guides to the woman and talked about the Voice of Prophecy program in their area. “If you complete all 26 lessons, you will receive a certificate of completion and a Bible of your very own,” he explained.
Julia soberly looked up from her empty cup. She knew that books were valuable in DRC even if the owner couldn’t read, but a new thought came to her.” I will be interested in your program on one condition–that you pray for my lost son.” She poured out her story–the teenage pregnancy, the kidnapping in 2016, and the fruitless search for him. The Bible worker prayed for her right then and there and promised to visit her home again for more prayers.
Immediately after their conversation, Julia returned to her home with the beginning of faith blossoming in her heart. Because she couldn’t read, her father happily agreed to sign up for Bible studies himself and read the material for her.
The following day, the Bible worker visited as promised. Three times a week for three weeks, the trio studied the Bible together and prayed for Julia’s lost boy. Then, Julia’s dad decided to attend church on Saturday for the first time. Ultimately, the entire family became very connected to the church and attended regularly. Train Them 2 Fish organized a Marathon 10,000 at the local church. (This program aims to study Daniel and Revelation with 10,000 people each year, placing tents on the street offering Prophecy Study guides to anyone interested in learning more about the Bible.)
Julia’s family was excited about this event and invited many of their neighbors to attend. Julia–along with five of her siblings and some of their neighbors–were baptized at the end of Marathon 10,000. She had experienced a total change of life. But the greatest miracle of all occurred on the final Sabbath of the event when she found her long-lost son. The precious boy with dark hair and big brown eyes had wound up at an orphanage sponsored by an Adventist pastor. There, Julia’s son had learned about Jesus and had grown to be seven years old. What a wonderful reunion happened in the church that Sabbath!
“It was like the day of resurrection for me,” Julia recalls. “[God] really answers prayers. I am no longer that alcohol-addicted lady, but a daughter of the Kingdom.”
